Papers relating to the National Political Union

31. [Add. Ms. 27791, ff. 94-5]

At a meeting held at Benbows house in the evening of the 9th November
(This was a meeting of the committee of the Union of the Working Classes),
the Commercial Coffee House, Fleet Street. A Mr Petrie one of the active
Rotunda leaders, proposed a plan to drill the people in some way of his
own so as to make them equal if not superior to the best disciplined troops.
This motion was discountenanced by the Chairman Wm Lovett and was
dropped.

Benbow moved. 'That the Whig Union of which Sir F. Burdett was at the
head, was a jesuistical attempt of the committee of the National Union to
cajole the working classes to employ their moral and physical force in support of the whig reform bill, and that no union deserved or ought to receive
the support of the working people which did [not?] declare its purpose to
be the obtainment of Annual Parliaments and Universal Suffrage.'

The Morning Chronicle which contains an account of this meeting
reports.

That the chairman joined with Mr Watkins Mr Cleave and others in deprecating the introduction of the resolution on the ground that the union at the
Crown and Anchor had not yet assumed any character and that it could not be
known what its principles were to be until its rules and regulations were drawn
up and agreed to at a public meeting of the members. It could not be said that
the gentlemen had determined what the character of the union should be as
they had left it to a general meeting of the members to be held tomorrow
evening, (Thursday) to appoint a committee which should within a month
from that day propose to another public meeting rules and regulations for the
government of the Union. It was also to be borne in mind that there were to
be 36 working men upon the committee, and the members of the Union of the
working classes ought to go to the meeting tomorrow night and support the
appointment of such men as would make the principles of the National Union
their principles and its objects their objects (hear hear).

Handbill 5

Major Beauclerk and other gentlemen had already declared that they would
not accept the Whig Bill as a final measure (hear) and it was on that account
that Mr Barber Beaumont and others were attempting to get up unions
pledged to ask nothing beyond the bill for the purpose of cutting up the
National Union.

Benbow withdrew his motion with the intention of submitting it to the next
meeting of delegates.

32. [Add. Ms. 27790, ff. 242-3]

. . . [There] was issued another proclamation against 'Political Unions
composed of separate bodies with various divisions and subdivisions under
leaders with a gradation of ranks and authority,' etc. it then alludes specifically to the plan of the Birmingham Union in assuming to constitute
themselves a municipal corporation,—and declares all such illegal.

Advantage was taken of this proclamation by the Tory papers to alarm
the members of the various unions, some of which but not in considerable
numbers abstained from attending the meetings, others were intimidated
and prevented becoming members, and two or three unions consisting of
very few persons dessolved [sic] their association and dispersed, among
these was a very paltry one which had assumed the title of the Westminster
Union, and was to consist of none but respectable persons. The National
Political Union had previously published an abstract of the laws relating to
political associations, (fn. 1) it was printed as a hand bill sent to every union
known to the National Union, and freely dispersed in every direction. In
the evening of the 22nd, four members of the Council of the Union having
met together caused the following advertisement to be inserted in most of
the London daily papers.

National Political Union
Royal Proclamation

To the editor etc.

Sir in consequence of the mis-statements of some of the evening newspapers
upon the subject of the Proclamation relating to Political Unions, and the
strong excitement it has occasioned. We as members of the Council think it
necessary to state that the Proclamation does not apply to the National Political
Union nor to the great majority of the Unions now in existence. The Proclamation is in fact, little more than a copy of the 'Laws relating to Political
Associations'—put forth some days ago by this Union and now in the hands
of the members.

Handbill 6

signed

Crown & Anchor TavernNov.22 1831

H.B. ChurchillR.H. FranksMatt.PowellE.H. Redman

33. [Add. Ms. 27791, f. 184. Council as at general meeting on 1 December
1831. Printed.]

34. [Add. Ms. 27791, f. 222. Printed balloting list for the council of the National Political Union, February 1832, with figures
added in manuscript.]

1st of the working class

A

B

Votes

Names

Business

Address

Proposed by

*12

425

Atkinson, H. T.

Working painter

2, North Crescent, Bedford Square

George Rogers

* 9

512

Allen, Thomas

Map engraver

1, Penton Place, Pentonville

C. F. Smith

†

41

249

Augero, F. A.

Teacher

26, Hercules' Buildings, Lambeth

William Carpenter

†*

47

160

Brackenborough, Edward

Cabinet maker

16, Brownlow Street, Holborn

E. Norminton

*18

478

Bennett, John

Artists' pencil maker

Museum Street

D. W. Redman

*27

372

Berkeley, George S.

Teacher

44, Fetter Lane

George Wilkinson

* 4

531

Bowyer, Thomas

Bookseller

32, Middleton Street, Clerkenwell

H. B. Churchill

†*

48

147

Baber, George

Clerk

32, Essex Street, King's Cross

B. Heenan

*10

511

Cheeseman, Richard

Brazier and Tinman

49, Great Dover Street, Southwark

E. Perry

* 3

538

Carrick, James

Bricklayer

44, King Street, Long Acre

Rowland Detrosier

* 6

535

Cumming, William

Carpet maker

Carpenters' Hall, London Wall

W. D. Saull

*

39

260

Draycot, Frederick

Carver and gilder

27, Duke Street, Bloomsbury

D. W. Redman

*35

335

Douglass, William

Coach maker

21, Frederick Place, Hampstead Road

S. M. Douglass

†

45

196

Grady, John

Attorney's Clerk & Student at Law

6, Pratt Street, Lambeth

John Hunt

*29

367

Hewitt, Daniel

Musician

Camden Cottage, Camden Town

H. T. Atkinson

*11

511

Hankin, H. B.

Figure Colourer

Carpenter's Buildings, Westminster

Erskine Perry

†*

46

171

Heenan, Benjamin

Clerk

39, Prince's Road, Kennington

George Baber

15

487

Irvine, J. G.

Optician

32, Kirby Street, Hatton Garden

W. D. Saull

*36

326

King, J. B.

5, James's Place, Hackney Road

William Wallis

*25

400

Knight, George

Teacher

Globe Lane, Bethnal Green

William Wallis

* 5

528

Longmate, James

Pocket-book maker

7, Theobald's Road

Thomas Murphy

†

38

266

Lovett, William

Carpenter

18, Greville Street, Hatton Garden

George Rogers

†20

435

Leonard, H. P.

Reporter for the press

32, Stanhope Road, Strand

Thomas Murphy

14

487

Moore, William

Bookseller

Little Russell Street, Bloomsbury

J. H. Powell

30

367

Millard, William

Trunk maker

19, Greville Street, Hatton Garden

Thomas Bowyer

*19

474

M'Diarmid, William

Printer

17, New Street Square

W. D. Saull

*23

422

Milner, Thomas

Painter and glazier

37, Marsham Street, Westminster

J. D. Styles

* 7

513

Mongredien, A.

Merchant's clerk

44, George Street, Hampstead Road

D. Wakefield

†*

40

259

Marsh, Joseph

Baker

3, Holland Place, Kensington

W. Midwinter

†*

43

202

Norminton, Edward

Dyer

5, Drury Lane

E. Brackenborough

*31

367

Norman, John

Book-keeper

5, Claremont Terrace, Durham Street Hackney Road

William Wallis

*21

435

Owen, Robert

Silk weaver

James's Place, Hackney Road

William Wallis

*17

482

Palmer, Robert

Printer

9, Tottenham Court Road

E. Perry

*

37

307

Pain, James

Brush maker

29, Union Place, New Kent Road

E. Perry

* 2

536

Powell, J. H.

Clerk

26, Chapple Street, Pentonville

H. B. Churchill

* 8

513

Redman, D. W.

Lithographic printer

14, Little Charlotte Street, Middlesex Hospital

C. F. Smith

†*

42

227

Ralay, James

Silversmith

15, Plummer Street, City Road

J. Detheridge

1

581

Styles, J. D.

Carpenter

37, Marsham Street, Westminister

R. Detrosier

*33

351

Sellis, John

Tailor

Church Street, Hackney

William Wallis

*13

495

Shirley, John

Pencil maker

22, Castle Street, Finsbury

D. Wakefield

*26

385

Tuson, William

Modeller

13, Dean Street, Soho

C. Reynolds

*24

417

Thomas, William

Tinplate worker

273, High Street, Borough

R. Cheeseman

*12

504

Wallis, William

Silk weaver

Hackney Road

Francis Place

*16

484

Wright, Henry

Working Goldsmith

Green Street, Leicester Square

E. Perry

28

372

Ward, G. G.

Machinist

30, Union Street, Mary-le-bone

E. Rainford

†*32

363

Wright, Charles

Agent and collector of rents

102, High Street, Holborn

Thomas Murphy

†

44

198

Watkins, David

Jeweller

109, Drummond Street, Euston Square

Dias Santos

*34

351

Wellard, Samuel

Tinplate worker

273, High Street, Borough

R. Cheeseman

2nd not of the working class

†*32

340

Arnot, Sandford

Professor

2, South Crescent, Bedford Square

George Rogers

*30

429

Buller, Charles

Barrister

Athenaeum

J. A. Roebuck

*22

492

Beauclerk, Aubrey

Major in the army

12, Chester Street, Belgrave Square

D. Wakefield, jun.

*31

410

Burnard, J. P.

Surveyor

Holloway

Henry Revell

* 9

568

Churchill, H. B.

Barrister

Temple

Henry Revell

†

45

169

Cleave, John

Coffee house keeper

27, King Street, Snow Hill

F. A. Augero

†28

466

Carpenter, William

Editor of Political Magazine

16, Great Union Street, Borough

John Cleave

*35

307

Cooke, William

Hatter

45, St. Mary Axe

E. C. Thomas

*19

517

Drake, Joseph

Window glass merchant

100, Edgware Road

Thomas Murphy

†

43

220

Dias Santos, Emanuel

No profession

2, Oxford Arms Passage, Warwick Lane

William Carpenter

*33

336

Elphinstone, Howard

No profession

Eaton Place, Pimlico

C. S. Menteath

*24

491

Evans, Thomas

Surgeon

Beak Street, Regent Street

Erskine Perry

1

624

Fox, Rev. W. J.

Minister

Upper Clapton

E. Rainford

8

571

Franks, Robert

Hatter

Red Cross Street, Barbican

Rowland Detrosier

†

46

159

Fall, George

Accountant

Doris Street, Lambeth

John Grady

*16

532

Gowan, Captain William

Officer

Upper Baker Street

R. Detrosier

*14

539

Galloway, Alexander

Engineer

West Street, Smithfield

E. C. Thomas

*

40

269

Harrison, S. B.

Pleader

Temple

D. Wakefield, jun.

†

47

154

Hunt, John

Soap boiler

Broad Street, Lambeth

E. Dias Santos

*23

492

Howell, Henry

Master tailor

4, Argyle Street, Oxford Street

D. Wakefield, jun.

†*

41

180

Hoile, John

Plumber

44, King Street, Long Acre

James Carrick

*18

518

Harrison, Samuel

Accountant

23, Great Ormond Street

R. Detrosier

*17

529

Hickson, W. E.

Shoe warehouseman

20, West Smithfield

Erskine Perry

5

592

Lillie, Sir John Scott, K.C.B.

North End, Fulham

Erskine Perry

6

579

Murphy, Thomas

Coal merchant

Commercial Place, Hampstead Road

Henry Revell

*

42

235

Michie, W. A.

Baker

30, Milbank Street, Westminster

R. Kemp

*25

477

Menteath, C. S.

Barrister

154, Albany Street, Regent's Park

George Rogers

*

38

298

Mordan, Sampson

Pencil manufacturer

Finsbury

D. Wakefield

†*

41

250

Newberry, William

No profession

Chenies Street, Gower Street

H. T. Atkinson

*26

476

Noel, Robert R.

B.A.

Notting Hill

E. Perry

*

39

275

Nash, Eleazer

Jeweller

9, Tavistock Place

Joseph Marsh

*11

561

Place, Francis

No profession

16, Charing Cross

R. Detrosier

*7

572

Perry, Erskine

Student at law

Old Brompton

R. Detrosier

†34

329

Potter, Thomas

Chandler

73, Crawford Street

Thomas Murphy

*13

550

Rainford, Edward

Bookseller

Red Lion Passage, Red Lion Street

R. Detrosier

*20

515

Roebuck, J. A.

Barrister

Gray's Inn

Francis Place

3

595

Rogers, George

Tobacconist

High Street, St. Giles

Thomas Murphy

2

609

Revell, Henry

Gentleman

Burton Crescent

Thomas Murphy

*29

430

Rutt, J. T.

No profession

Newington Green

Rowland Detrosier

†36

303

Savage, John

Draper

Crawford Street

Thomas Potter

*12

554

Smith, C. F.

Draper

Stones' End, Borough

H. Revell

4

594

Saull, W. D.

Wine merchant

Aldersgate Street

Henry Revell

*

37

302

Templeman, John

Bookseller

18, Percy Street, Tottenham Court Road

J. Whitford

*21

508

Thomas, E. Cartwright

Surgeon

49, Old Broad Street

H. B. Churchill

*15

536

Taylor, John

Merchant

4, Christopher Street, Finsbury

R. Detrosier

*10

567

Wakefield, Daniel

Student at law

Gray's Inn

Henry Revel [sic.]

†27

476

Wakley, Thomas

Surgeon

Greenford, Middlesex

George Rogers

N.B. Members must strike out the names of those they do not intend to vote for. No more than 36 names must be left on each of the above lists: it may contain
any smaller number.

[In the Place Collection, set 17, vol. 2, there are two balloting lists, annotated in Place's writing, 'List made by one and agreed to by several in the
hope of excluding the dishonest men who would destroy the Union—viz
Augero, Grady, Lovett, Cleave, Dias Santos, Fall, Hunt.' and 'Rotunda
list made by Dias Santos, Grady and Fall'. In the above list those whose
names were struck off the list by the Rotunda men are marked *, and those
whose names were struck off by Place and his friends were marked †.
Those unmarked were, presumably, acceptable to both groups. Columns
A and B, respectively, show the positions, according to votes received, of
those elected and those not elected.]

35. [Add. Ms. 27791, f. 147]

Balloting for the Council in the way it was done was under the circumstances of the case the best mode of election that could be devised. It was
however a very defective mode, every member was required to select
seventy two other members, to whom he would be willing if not as he ought
to have been desirous to chuse to manage for him, this was absurd, not one
man in the whole union could pick out seventy two such men, no man in
the union could have the knowledge of seventy two men each of whom was
at all qualified for the office he was to fill. The consequences were that
many voted simply on the direction of others, those others themselves
chusing by far the greater part of the persons to be voted for at random.
Many voted only for a small number, and some confined themselves to the
very few with whom they were acquainted. A very large number did not vote
at all, because there were not more than from one to perhaps two with whom
they were sufficiently acquainted to be able to decide as to their fitness. To
be complete each member should have had but one vote for one candidate
only. As it was, it was a good lesson to a large number of persons, in as
much as it shewed them with what ease, certainty and precision and in how
short a time the secret suffrages of a very large number of persons could be
taken.